Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady (15 page)

“Have we been invited to the house party or not?” her cousin asked impatiently.

Charlotte’s father looked up from his paper and picked up his cup of tea to take a sip of the dark liquid. “I don’t see why you would want to attend, poppet. It’s not as though you will be finding a prospective match.”

“Must you constantly remind me? I know you don’t approve of our friendship with Lady Carleton, but she has treated us fabulously and we wouldn’t have been invited to half the get-togethers this season if not for her.”

“Miss Camden should be the one reminding you, not I.”

Charlotte put down the marmalade-covered biscuit she’d been about to bite into.

“Everyone else will be leaving for the country in the next week if this heat doesn’t let up. I don’t see why we wouldn’t be thrilled at the prospect of attending the most exclusive summer house party, one that affords us the opportunity to get some much needed fresh air, Papa.”

“Rusticate if you must, but remember your responsibility to this family.”

“You know I will,” Charlotte said sweetly to her father.

When Lord Ponsley picked up his morning paper, Charlotte focused on Genny.

“We are invited,” Genny confirmed. “But we must think of your grandmother’s health in this heat. It would be unwise to leave her here without a companion.”

Charlotte pushed her chair out from the table and folded her napkin over her place. “I must speak to Grandmamma at once.”

At Genny’s raised eyebrow, her cousin rounded the table and kissed her father on the cheek. “Please excuse me from breakfast.”

Her father made a noncommittal grunt on the heels of Charlotte’s exit from the room.

Genny looked across the table at Lord Ponsley. She really disliked being left alone with him. He wasn’t an easy man to talk to, at least not for her. He doted upon his daughter, which was part of the reason her cousin acted spoiled at times. When he did lower himself to address Genny—which was a rare event—it was clear that she was no more than the help; a poor relation who would never rise to a higher position than the servitude she found herself in at present.

She cut into her poached egg and focused on her breakfast plate. If Charlotte didn’t return soon, Genny would excuse herself before Lord Ponsley remembered that she was even there.

“Miss Camden?” She flinched at her spoken name and swallowed the lump of egg that was only half chewed in her mouth. It wouldn’t do to keep his lordship waiting for a response.

“Yes, my lord?”

Everything about Lord Ponsley was firmly above reproach and so she never addressed him informally. There were no lost feelings between them, even though Lord Ponsley was her uncle.

“Has Lord Castleigh attempted to
court
my daughter?”

How had he come by that information? And was the exaggeration about courting his own, or the observation of another? She didn’t think it wise to lie in this instance.

“Very briefly. It seems he found another distraction once I made my displeasure known when he befriended Charlotte.”

Lord Ponsley grunted at her response. “You are paid—generously I might add—to ensure that my daughter is ready for her upcoming nuptials. She does not need new friends, nor does she need men with the reputation Castleigh has approaching her. How he ever had the opportunity to be introduced to my daughter makes me question your capability as a chaperone.”

“Charlotte is aware that Lord Castleigh is not welcome to join us at any mutually attended events in the future.” Of course she’d not tell him that she had been clear and honest with her cousin about the man being nothing more than a libertine.

“There should never be a need to warn my daughter of the unseemly characters that lurk in wait for an easy victim during the season. Do what you were hired to do, and make sure you are close to my daughter at all times. I’ll not have her compromised.”

Genny lowered her head and stared at her half-eaten egg. She was no longer hungry and wished she could simply leave the breakfast room. “Yes, my lord.”

The crinkle and flick of the newspaper told Genny that Lord Ponsley no longer wished to converse with her. When he was well focused on his reading, she folded her napkin and placed it on the lace tablecloth and excused herself from Lord Ponsley’s company. As usual he took no notice of her.

It should not surprise Genny that the gossips had been busy speculating about the marquess’s attention toward Charlotte.

“Before you leave, Miss Camden,” Lord Ponsley said, looking over the edge of his paper at her.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Make sure that you cut your ties with Lord Barrington, too. You’ll turn me into a laughingstock should it get out that someone in my employ would dare to be so defiant as to allow herself to be courted by my opponent.”

She lowered her head. “I didn’t mean—”

“Save your speech. Just make sure no one else has a reason to whisper in my ear that you are visibly going behind my back to engage in some wickedly inappropriate liaison.”

“I’ve done nothing wrong.” She really should have just left the room instead of defending herself. Once Lord Ponsley made up his mind about something, there was no changing what he thought.

“If you are seen consorting with him again, you’ll be removed from this house, Miss Camden. Endeavor to keep that in mind.”

He turned the page in his paper and gave it a violent flick to straighten it out.

She didn’t say anything else, just stood near the door, keeping her eyes downcast from Lord Ponsley and the two footmen who gave her a brief pitying glance.

He waved her off. “You’re dismissed.”

She made her way slowly toward the parlor. How was she going to avoid Leo? He was the one always searching her out, not the other way around. Maybe if they ran into each other again, she’d speak plainly and make sure that Leo understood that her position didn’t allow for any sort of friendship or rivalry between them. It might be a better idea to send him a note.

Now was not the time to worry about it, however, for she had to arrange her afternoon with her cousin. They were taking a ride through Hyde Park with Mr. Warren. The past few months had gone by faster than Genny had anticipated. Before she knew it, her cousin would be a married woman and Genny’s role in life once again uncertain.

A piano piece by Bach filled the corridor as she approached the parlor. It was a small but comfortable room, and a favorite place for both her and Charlotte to retreat to when they stayed in.

As Genny pushed the white-paneled door open, Charlotte said, “Grandmamma insists we take advantage of the invite and enjoy the summer reprieve.”

“She does?” Oddly enough, this tidbit of news surprised Genny. She never thought the woman could be without someone close by to harangue at all hours of the day.

Charlotte closed the lid on the piano keys and pushed out the bench so she could turn to look at her. Genny made herself comfortable on the cushioned window seat that overlooked the street below, which was bustling with activity this late in the morning.

Folding her legs under her, she asked, “Who will keep her company while we are away?”

“Grandmamma said she will send a note to Aunt Alice today and summon her to Town with all due haste.”

Genny was silently relieved that they would be able to escape the heat and stench of the city and spend the hottest time of year in Hertfordshire. Not to mention being away from Barrington and Castleigh for the better part of the summer season. She didn’t wish to test her luck avoiding Barrington under the public eye any time soon.

They had an hour to ready for their long afternoon. Genny glanced at Charlotte’s pale yellow walking dress. She looked lovely as always. “Is this what you wish to wear for your afternoon out with Mr. Warren?”

Charlotte shut the music book she’d been reading from. “Do you disapprove of my ensemble?” She fanned out her stylish skirts, and pressed her palms to her torso as she looked down at her dress.

“Not at all. It rained early this morning and we will be in an open carriage.”

“Then I will instruct Mr. Warren to stay on the dry paths.”

“Charlotte.” Genny sighed. She really didn’t want the day to be a trial with her cousin.

“If I don’t stand up for myself now, his soon-to-be lordship will take advantage of me at every opportunity.”

“You judge others too harshly.”

Charlotte crossed her arms and emitted a huff of annoyance. “It’s necessary when you aren’t given a choice as to whom you marry.”

“You aren’t in any different a position than half the young ladies who debuted this season,” Genny said.

“Yes, but if this man is a friend of my father’s, I can only imagine them to be two peas in a pod.”

Genny barely concealed her laugh. “Is that where all your dissonance comes from? You’re afraid you will be marrying a man like your father.”

Charlotte nodded as she walked toward the window seat. “Wouldn’t
that
prospect have scared you when you debuted?”

“My father was much different from yours. Calm, patient, loving, and doting to my mother and me. If I had met a man like my father, I would have counted myself lucky. That’s not to say I wouldn’t be horrified to marry someone with a briskly calculating and cool demeanor.”

“You understand me perfectly, then.”

Charlotte came over and sat opposite her, stretching out her legs on the bench.

“I do.” Genny reached for her cousin’s hand and gave it a light squeeze. “But take note that Mr. Warren is a great deal younger than your father. He’s done well to secure a very comfortable future for you. You’ll want for nothing.”

“Some things are worth sacrificing, including comfort, when you want more than a marriage of convenience.”

“And what would you sacrifice all the comfort in the world for?”

“Love,” her cousin said on a wistful breath.

“Charlotte…” Had Genny been blind to her cousin’s feelings for another? “Do you hold a
tendre
for someone else?”

Please let it not be Castleigh, she thought.

“Not precisely.”

Genny exhaled a relieved breath, though she wasn’t completely convinced that her cousin was telling the truth.

“Don’t you think I should be given a fair opportunity to experience that feeling at least once before tying myself to a man I don’t love for all eternity?” Charlotte asked.

“Give it time. Love can grow between the two of you.”

“Easy enough for you to say when you aren’t being told you must marry someone you wish you didn’t have to.”

“You only have to put a little effort into building a strong relationship with your future husband. I know a great number of people who have married out of duty, but have found love by working toward friendship and family.”

“And why should I have to have children at all, when I’m still young?” Charlotte let out a distressed huff of air and rested her head back against the wall. “I just wish Papa would have let me travel the Continent—or at least have given me a few more years before
doing my duty for the family,
” Charlotte said, mocking her father’s words.

“That is not for young ladies to do before they wed. But your future husband may take you anywhere in the world that you want to visit.”

Charlotte snorted. “Don’t be obtuse. You have met Mr. Warren.”

“You have sat with him but a few times a week this past month. That is certainly not enough time to form a lasting opinion of anyone’s character.”

“It is for me,” Charlotte assured her.

Genny took in a deep breath, hoping for patience because she might need it this afternoon. If Charlotte was contradictory with Mr. Warren, she didn’t know what she would do to smooth things over.

“If he didn’t want this marriage to work, he wouldn’t pay you the kindness of publicly courting you.”

Charlotte met her gaze and rolled her eyes. “Yes, because my fifty-thousand-pound dowry has nothing to do with this kindness of his.”

“Mr. Warren stands to inherit a great fortune. And when he does, your dowry will be nothing but a drop in the bucket,” Genny pointed out.

“That’s
if
he inherits.”

“There is no question in my mind that the earldom will be his, Charlotte. These matters take time to sort out, and once everything is resolved, he’ll take you as his wife.”

Charlotte swung her legs back to the ground. She must have had enough of Genny lecturing her on this topic. “You needn’t remind me.”

“I suggest you take the opportunity to better acquaint yourself with him over the next week. Endear him to your favor before we leave for the Carleton house party.”

“Only because you are forcing me to do so.”

“If that’s as close to acquiescence as I can get with you, then I’ll take it.”

Chapter 11

It is unfortunate that nothing ever seems to happen during the summer. Mind you, Lord P
^___
was seen visiting with Mr. W
^___
yesterday past at a gentlemen’s club … one that shall remain unnamed. With the current showing of P
^___
’s daughter this season, and her recent outings with Mr. W
^___
, one can only imagine where this will be leading near the end of the year. Is a spring wedding on the horizon? Hmm, I think not.

I make a prediction, dear readers, and that is that P
^___
’s daughter cannot be so easily tamed.

The Mayfair Chronicles, July 5, 1846

Genny tried to concentrate on the book she’d borrowed from the Carleton library last night. It was a gothic novel she had no interest in reading, but thought it might help her forget about one guest in particular. It was a useless task. She couldn’t focus on anything except the man sitting ten feet away from her.

Lord Ponsley must have been aware that Lord Barrington would be here. Maybe the warning he’d given her was intended to make her extra vigilant in her dealings with Lord Barrington over the next few weeks?